Habitat and nectar resource utilisation by butterflies found in Siruvattukadu Kombei, Palni Hills, Western Ghats

6 Pages·1997·3.9 MB·

by  Ghazala Shahabuddin

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES 423
Edinburgh and London, vii + 405 pp., 39 pis. pis. xv.
Misra, K.S. (1976): The Fauna of India and Adjacent Talwar, P.K. & A.G. Jhingran (1991): Inland Fishes of
Countries. Pisces (Second Edition) Vol. III. India and Adjacent Countries. Vol. 2. Oxford &
Teleostomi: Cyprinifonnes; Siluri. Delhi xxi +367 IBH Publ.Co. Pvt. Ltd. 1158 pp.
HABITAT AND NECTAR RESOURCE UTILISATION BY BUTTERFLIES
29.
FOUND IN SIRUVATTUKADU KOMBEI, PALNI HILLS, WESTERN GHATS
(With one text-figure)
Siruvattukadu Kombei is a valley covering Oakblue, was a new record for the Palni Hills.
roughly 80 sq. km in the northeastern section of Many more species are likely to be discovered,
the Palni Hills in the Western Ghats, between since the present study covered only one dry
10° 21' to 10° 25' N lat. and 77° 36' to 77° 44' E season.
long. (Fig. 1). The mean altitude of the valley is
m Habitat and nectar resource utilisation
750 abovemsl. Siruvattukadu Kombei comprises
thewatershed oftheperennial stream Seradipallam Lime plantations were the dominant
mm
andreceivesnearly 1000 ofrainfall everyyear. agricultural land-use in the area. Lime trees were
The main forest types in the area are moist planted in regular rows with scattered cultivated
deciduous, semi-evergreen, riparian mixed and dry trees such as silk-cotton (Bombaxceiba),jackfruit
deciduous (Sustainable Development Program, Artocarpus heterophyllus) and banana (Musa
C
1992). The forest habitat is now patchy due to sapientum). The notable feature ofthe plantations
conversion to agriculture and otherhuman impacts. was their variety of herbaceous weeds such as
Though there have been 2 earlier studies Stachytarpheta indica, Tridax procumbens,
that recorded the butterfly life of the Palni Hills Leucas aspera, Sida spp. and Acanthospermum
(Evans, 1910; Ugarte and Rodericks, 1960), hispidum, whose flowers attracted large numbers
Siruvattukadu Kombei has never been explored of butterflies. In addition, the agricultural fields
foritsbutterfly fauna, on accountofbeing isolated were surrounded by thickets ofLantana camara
from the rest of the Hills. In the dry season of which were flowering throughout the study period
1992 (February to June), I carried out a survey of and appeared to be an important source ofnectar
the butterfly fauna of Siruvattukadu Kombei by for several butterfly species (Table 1).
identifying species, recording their nectar-feeding The common butterfly species were those
relationships and presence/absence in various that appeared restricted to open and degraded
habitat types. Four major habitat types in the agricultural land, including the Papilioni,-Lime
valley were chosen for systematic sampling. Swallowtail, Nymphalids such as the Yellow
Species were identified following Wynter-Blyth Pansy, Blue Pansy and Peacock Pansy and
(1957), Satyamurti (1966), and Varshney (1979, numerous Pierids such as Emigrants (Common,
1985). Mottled and African). The Indian Skipper and the
Butterfly Diversity: 105 butterfly species Ceylon Ace were the only Hesperids seen in the
were recorded, out ofwhich 13 were Papilionids, plantation habitat and seemed confined to it.
7 Satyrids, 21 Nymphalids, 1 Erycinid, 17 Pierids, Lycaenids such as the Lime Blue, the Peablue,
14 Hesperids, 6 Danaids, 25 Lycaenids and Common Silverline and Lesser Grass Blue were
1 Acraeid. quite common in the plantation habitat and were
The total butterfly species count is a high not spotted in any other habitat.
fraction (42%) ofthe 248 thathavebeen recorded Apart from these sedentary species, forest
from the Palni’s so far. One species, the Tamil species like the Blue Mormon and Common
424 JOURNAL, BOMBAYNATURAL HIST SOCIETY, Vol. 94 (1997)
Table
1
OBSERVATIONS ON NECTAR-FEEDING IN BUTTERFLIES
BUTTERFLY SPECIES PLANTSPECIES OF:
AGRICULTURAL & RIPARIAN ZONES FORESTZONE
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
Polydorus hector + + + +
Polydorus aristolochiae + +
Papilio crino +
Papilio demoleus + +
Papiliopolytes + + + + +
Papilio polymnestor + + + +
Graphium doson + +
Graphium agamemnon + + + + +
Graphium nomius +
Ypthimaphilomela + +
Erihoea athamas +
Neptis hordonia + +
Hypolimnas bolina +
Hypolimnas misippus +
Precis hierta +
Precis iphita + + + + + +
Precis orithyia +
Atella phalantha + +
Cupha erymanthis +
Neptisjumbah +
Euripus consimilis + •
Precis lemonias + + +
Libythea lepita +
Cepora nerissa +
Eurema hecabe + + +
Appias albina +
Colotis etrida +
Leptosia nina •
Catopsilia crocale + + + + + +
Catopsilia pyranthe + + + +
Catopsiliaflorella + + + +
Delias eucharis +
Lambrixsalsala + +
Halpe homolea + + +
Spialia galba +
Celanorrhinus leucocera + +
Tagiadesjapetes +
Coladenia indrani +
Dauaus chrysippus + + + *+• +
Danaus genutia + + + + +
Euploea core + + + + + + + + + +
Danaus aglea + +
Danaus hamata + + +
Danaus limniace + + + + + +
Castalius rosimon +
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES 425
Table (contd.)
1
OBSERVATIONS ON NECTAR-FEEDING IN BUTTERFLIES
BUTTERFLY SPECIES PLANTSPECIES OF:
AGRICULTURAL & RIPARIAN ZONES FORESTZONE
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Castalius ethion +
Zizeeria otis +
Catachrysops strabo +
Celastrina cama +
Jamides bochus + +
Syntarucus plinius +
Jamides celeno +
Zizula gaika +
Chilades laius + + +
Freyeria trochilus + +
Syntarucusjesous +
Lampides boeticus + + +
Acraea violae + +
KEYTO PLANT SPECIES;
1: Asclepias currassavica 6: Tridaxprocumbens 11: Pongamiapinnata 16. Gardenia obtusa
2: Parthenium sp. 7: Abutilon sp. 12: Albizzia odoratissima 17: Uniden. Acanthaceae
3: Leucas aspera 8: Mimosapudica 13: Pavetta indica 18: Xanthoxylum rhetsa
4: Stachytarpheta indica 9: Tamarindus indica 14: Psychotria sp. 19: Strychnos potatorum
5: Lontana camara 10: Mastixia sp. 15: Terminalia arjuna 20: Murraya paniculata
NOTE: '+’ sign indicates feeding relationship was observed
Banded Peacock were often seen venturing far These two types ofhabitats (i.e. shaded and open
away from the forestedge, feeding onLantana at streambank) had distinct communities.Asclepias
the edge of fields. These species, being more currassivica, Terminalia arjuna and Pongamia
mobile than most forest dwelling species, use the pinnata appeared to be important nectar source
nectar resource available in more open habitats for butterflies in the stream bank habitat.
too and could cross open areas to reach other This habitat was found to be the richest in
forest fragments. All the Danaids, except the the number ofbutterfly species. 79% ofthe total
Glassy Tiger, were very common in the number ofbutterflies seen during the study were
agricultural fields feeding avidly on the abundant recorded from this zone. Some of the rarest
flowers ofStachytarpheta indica. species ofthis area, such as the Common Leopard,
Stream bank habitat consisted of StaffSergeant, CommonMap, Suffused Snowflat,
alternating rocky terrain and sand banks, along Water Snowflat and Blue Oakleaf were seen
which grew scattered clumps of grasses and alighting hereon shady, moist streambanks. These
shrubs. In some places the stream banks were species were found mainly or exclusively in this
shaded over with riparian tree species such as zone, in addition to some Lycaenids such as the
Pongamia pinnata Terminalia arjuna (upto Peacock Royal and Indian Sunbeam.
,
25 m), Mangifera indica and Maytenus In slightly more open areas, Common
emarginata. In more open areas, shrubby species Sailors, Tailed Jay, Great Orangetips and
such as Solanum torvum Asclepias currassivica Emigrants (all three species) joined large groups
,
and Lantana camara grew on the sandbanks. of Bluebottles to mud-puddle on open sand-
426 JOURNAL, BOMBAYNATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. 94 (1997)
1978)
Oates
from
(adapted
Hills
Palni
tbe
in
Kombei
Siruvattukadu
of
Location
1.
Fig.
Z
Wi
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES 427
banks. A few Spot Swordtails were observed in this zone were the Psyche, Yamfly, Angled
occasionally in these groups. TheCommon Beak Pierrot and Southern Indian Rustic. White-
was frequently seen in these areas. It was fourrings were often seen feeding on horse and
interesting to note that very few Danaids were donkey dung on the trails and the Tamil Oakblue
seen mud-puddling here or elsewhere. The was seen flashing across the forest paths
Painted Courtesan was sometimes seen in frequently. The Common Banded Peacock was
agricultural streamside patches. The Red Pierrot infrequent during the study period, but towards
was always seen flying weakly amongst low- the end a group of freshly emerged adults were
,
growing patches of Bryophyllum spp. (its food seen settling on a wet patch on a forest path.
plant) on damp sandbanks. It was perhaps the Gardenia obtusa, Strychnos potatorum and
most sedentary species encountered during the Albizzia odoratissima were major nectar sources
study. forbutterflies in the forest during the study period.
Thus the stream bank appeared to be the In the riparian moistdeciduous forest,the
mostimportanthabitat for most ofthespecies seen understorey was dominated by Murraya
in Koinbei, including the open area species, forest paniculata and Canthium parviflora while trees
and generalist species. Thesebutterflies gathered such as Mangifera indica and Miterophora were
here in large numbers in the dry season, possibly prominent in the top canopy. This habitat was
because this was the only habitat where the males found to be vegetationally quite similar to other
could replenish their mineral needs by mud- forests of the area. Consequently, the butterfly
puddling. Therefore, if a quick inventory of the life was also similar to that in the moist deciduous
butterfly fauna ofan area is desired, the best place forest transects. The flowering shrub Pavetta
to start in would be the stream bank zone. indicawas common in this zone, and on one tree,
During April and May, 1 km ofthe riparian the flowers appeared to be monopolised by the
area was filled with thousands ofCommon Crows, Mormon, which was once seen chasing off other
Dark Blue Tigers and some Glassy Blue Tigers. butterflies.
Swarms of butterflies flew up when one walked It was found that Siruvattukadu Kombei
through this area and every leafwas covered with harbours several species ofbutterflies that arerare
butterflies. It appeared to be a migration but no and reportedlyconfined to good qualitydeciduous
directional movement was seen. The butterflies and evergreen forest, such as the Spot Swordtail,
lingered on for nearly four weeks and fed RedspotDuke, Common Banded Peacock, Water
continuously on the flowers of Terminalia arjuna Snowflat, Chestnut Bob and theCommon Nawab.
which were trees, in full bloom then. The fauna also includes several other species that
Moist deciduous forest was present on are endemic to the Indian subcontinent such as
most of the hill slopes around the valley. It was the Common Map, Glad-eye Buchbrown,
dominated by the canopy species Miterophera Common Birdwing, Baron and the Blue Oakleaf
heyneana Alphonsea scierocarpa Celtis wightii, (Larsen, 1987a, b, c and Wynter-Blyth, 1957).
, ,
Sapindus emarginata and Diospyros Endemics constitute nearly 25% of the fauna
melanoxylon. Shrubs such asMurrayapaniculata, discovered so far and most of these were found
Pavetta indica, Tarenna asiatica and Canthium to avoid man-modified habitats
.
parv(floraoccurred commonly in the understorey.
Common
along the forest paths were Acknowledgements
Satyrids such as the Baby Fivering, Glad-eye
Bushbrown and Dark-brand Bushbrown, the This study was conducted with financial
Papilionids Blue Mormon and Crimson Rose and and infrastructural support from the Sustainable
the Nymphalid Chocolate Pansy. Rarer species Development Program (SDP; formerly a joint
428 JOURNAL BOMBAYNATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. 94 (1997)
project of Development Alternatives, Delhi and Ms. Soubadra Devi, of Pondicherry University,
Palni Hills Conservation Council, Kodaikanal). for butterfly identifications.
IthankDr. RaufAli ofSDP foruseful discussions
Dr. N. Parthasarathy of Pondicherry April 18, 1996 GHAZALA SHAHABUDDIN
University, Dr. B.R. Ramesh ofFrench Institute, School ofEnvironment,
Pondicherry and Mr. Rajendran of SDP for help Duke University,
with the identification of plant specimens and Durham, NC-27708, U.S.A.
Refer
EN CES
Evans, W.H. (1910): A list ofthe butterflies ofthe Palni Museum. Govt, of Madras.
Hills with descriptionsoftwo new species.J. Bombay Ugarte, E. and L. Rodericks (1960): Butterflies of the
not. Hist. Soc.. 20 (2): 380-392. Palni Hills: Acomplementarylist.7. Bombaynat. Hist.
Larsen, T.B. (1987a): The butterflies of the Nilgiri Soc. 57(2): 270-277.
Mountains of Southern India. J. Bombay not. Hist. Varshney, R.K. (1979): Revised nomenclature for taxa
Soc. 84 (1): 26-54. inWynter-Blyth’sbookonthebutterfliesoftheIndian
Larsen, T.B. (1987b): The butterflies of the Nilgiri region-I. J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc. 76(1): 33-40.
Mountains of Southern India. J. Bombay not. Hist. Varshney, R.K. (1985): Revised nomenclature for taxa
Soc. 84 (2): 291-316. in Wynter-Blyth’s book on the butterflies of the
Larsen, T.B. (1987c): The butterflies of the Nilgiri Indian region-II.J. Bombaynat. Hist. Soc. 82(3): 309-
Mountains of Southern India. J. Bombay nat. Hist. 321.
Soc. 84(3): 561-584. Wynter-Blyth, M.A. (1957): Butterflies of the Indian
Satyamurti, S.T. (1966): Descriptive catalogue of the Region. Bombay Natural History Society,
butterfliesin thecollection oftheMadras Government Mumbai.
FIRST RECORDS OF SUBFAMILY TENTHREDININAE
30.
(HYMENOPTERA TENTHREDINIDAE) FROM INDIA
:
(With nine text-figures)
The genusColochelynawith its type species mesoscutellar appendage, metanotum,
C. magrettii, was erected by Konow in 1898. It mesepimeron, mesepisternum except a spotin the
was represented by three species from southeast centre, metapleuron, propodeum except extreme
Asia, .excluding India. Now, with C. magrettii posterior margin, 2nd and 3rd abdominal tergites,
recorded from Nagaland, the genus has extended coxae, trochanters, and basal halves ofall femora.
its limits to India as well. Similarly, Tenthredo The labrum, an irregular spot covering frontal
sauteri (Rohwer) previously recorded from area, and extremeposterior margin ofpropodeum
Taiwan, Burma and Tonkin and Tenthredo withdeflexed sides arewhite. Wings with adarker
kingdonwardii Malaise from China and Burma, shade along anterior margin of forewings.
are now reported from India. Venation blackish, costa and stigma fulvous.
Antenna slightly compressed, 2.0 x head
Colochelyna magrettii Konow, 1898 width, segment 3 distinctly longer than 4 as 6:3.
(Fig. 5) Clypeus slightly rounded, with a faint indication
ofincision in middle. Labrum small, convex, with
Female: Averagelength: 16 mm. Body dark a conical anterior margin. Malar space almost
reddish-brown except antennae, tibiae and tarsi equal to the diameter of median ocellus. LID:
ofall legs. The following parts are black:furrows IDMO: EL :: 3.1 : 4.0 : 3.0, OOL : POL : OCL ::
above the clypeus and of mesonotum. 2.5 : 1 .0: 1.7, Frontal area above the level ofeyes;